Expansible form for in



Sept. 10, 1929. E. R. AMMON I EXPANSIBLE FORM FOR INSPECTING STOCKINGS Filed May 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet E f z INVENTOR WK l m lw M A TORNEY Sept. 10, 1929. AMMON 1,727,499

EXPANSIBLE FORM FOR INSPECTING STOCKINGS Filed May 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52MB ENVENTOR F hose are demanded.

Patented Sept. 10, 19 29.

UNlTED STATES EDWARD R. AMMON, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPANSIBLE FORM FOR INSPECTING STOCKINGS.

Application filed May 1,

The present invention relates to an improvement in hosiery inspecting devices more particularly of the type adapted for inspecting full .1 shioned hose. In my copending applications Serial No. 171,850, filed March 1, 1927, and Serial No. 197 ,215, filed June 7, 1927, I have illustrated a form of inspecting device in the use of which the necessary stretching or distending of the fabric and seam stitches is accomplished without changing the conformation of the device. lVhile this operates successfully for most pin-poses, it has been found that a more intensive stretching and inspection of certain parts of For example, in some hosiery manufacturing enterprises where the output is wholly guaranteed against imperfections, it becomes desirable to subject the seam forn'iing loops and narrowing stitches to an unusually rigid. inspection. Formerly, this has been done by operatives whose practice was to stretch. portions of the stocking adjacent to the seam by pressing their fingers along the seam from inside the stocking, thus producing an intensive local stretching by means of which the narrowing, looper and seam stitches could be thoroughly observed. It one object of my invention to provide an inspecting device whereby intensive stretching of the seam or any other desired portion may be effected by mechanical means. Vith. such a device, the rate of output of inspectors is measurably increased and the amount of physical exertion expended in the operation is reduced to a point where fatigue does not lessen the quality of the operatives output. Furthermore, in using my improved device, the operation of inspection is standardized in so far as the factor of stretching and proper control thereof are concerned. Other advantages and benefits to be derived from the use of my improved construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following description thereof in connection with the drawings appended thereto and in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section illustrating a preferred form ofinspecting device with the stretching means in retracted position;

1928 Serial No. 274,259.

Figure 2, a similar view showing the stretching means in extended or stretching position;

Figure 3, a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure i, a transverse section on the line t l of Figure 1;

Figure 5 a fragmentary View partly in section on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6, a fragmentary side view of a modification partly in section; and,

Figure 7, a view at 90 degrees to that shown in Figure 6 and with a portion broken away to disclose the stretcher extending devices.

As indicated in the drawings, my improved inspecting device includes generally a form preferably of such shape and size that when a stocking or other article of hosiery is drawn into position thereon for inspection, it will be in extended condition, by which I mean that the portion thereof occupied by the form will present a substantially continuous curved surface and with the thread loops of the fabric and of the seams in normal extended but unstretched relation. While a form having the characteristics above stated is preferred, it will be apparent that my improved construct-ion embodying the extensible features may be employed with forms not of ideal proportions. My improved construction further includes stretching means shown as a stretcl'iing member mounted in the form and coasting with suitable devices or instrumentalitios therein or thereon for moving it outwardly from normal retracted position into stretching position. A bracket or other suit able device supports the form and means are provided to operate the instrumentalities for moving the stretching member or members.

Referring to'Figm'es 1 to 5 inclusive, one embodiment of my invention includes a form 1 preferably of a shape adapted to support a stocking or the like in extended condition. A shaft 2 is secured to the rear end of form 1 and i s provided with ball bearing cones 3 engaging ball bearings 4 mounted in a suitable bearing retainer 5 supported on a bracket 6. The surface of form 1 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening divided into a plurality of sections or separate openings by partitions 8, 9, and 11 to form recesses in which are positioned extensible stretchers 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 respectively. An additional opening at the narrow end of the form pro vides a recess or recesses to accommodate stretchers 18 and 20 which are extensible in a plane disposed at an angle preferably 90 degrees to the plane of movement of the previously mentioned stretchers. The several stretchers are held normally in retracted po= sition by any suitable means, such for example, as springs 21. Means are also provided for moving the stretchers outwardly or into stocking stretching position and include wedges 22 secured to or actuated by a rod 23 mounted to slide longitudinally in form 1. The inclined lifting surfaces of the wedges cooperate with correspondingly inclined un der surfaces of the stretchers. In some cases, it will be advisable to have more than one wedge operating on a single stretching memher as for example on the stretching members 13,15,16 and 17.

For moving the stretchers the rod 23 is provided with a lug 24 engaging a collar 25 slidably mounted on shaft 2, said shaft being slotted at 26 to accommodate said lug 24 as it moves longitudinally therein, and said collar being actuated by a rod 27 having a pair of spaced extensions 28 positioned to engage forward and rear portions of said collar respectively. One end of rod 27 is slidably supported by bracket 6 in a bearing 29, the other end being pivotally secured to a bell crank lever 30 at 31, and said lever being pivotally mounted on a suitable support at 32. A handle 33 is provided at the free end of said bell crank lever so that the latter may be manually operated to effect endwise to-and-fro movement of the rod 27 In operatiomwhen the rod 27 is moved in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) as by deflecting the free end of the bell crank lever 30, the rod 23 moves in the same direction carrying with it the wedges 22 which press the stretchers outwardly through their respective openings against resistance of the springs 21.

In some cases it is desirable to produce a relatively greater strain or stretching at one portion of a seam than at another portion. For example, it may be and often is particularly desirable to stretch the narrowing of the stocking below the calf portion. \Vith the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this narrowed portion of the stocking would normally be positioned adjacent to the stretcher 16. As indicated, a recess 34 is provided in the interior of form 1 underlying said stretcher which has inclined surfaces for engaging respectively the inclined surfaces 35 in the form and inclined surfaces 37 on the under side of the stretcher 16. A passage Way 38 through wedge 36 (Figure 4) accommodates the rod 23 which is provided with a fixed collar 39 rearwardly of wedge 36 and a similar fixed collar 40 adjacent to the forward end of said wedge 36. A spring 41 having one end secured to the rear wall of recess 34 and the other end secured to a rear portion of the wedge 36 operates to retain said wedge in normal retracted position, as indicated in Figure 1. When the rod 23 is moved for ward as hereinabove described, collar 39 bears against the rear face of wedge 36 which not only moves forward or longitudinally in response thereto but also moves outwardly or transversely and thereby extends the stretcher 16 by an amount greater than the displacement of the other stretcher-s. When the rod 23 is moved rearwardly or in the reverse or retracting direction, the collar 40 bears against the forward end ofwedge 36, thus positively returning it to its normal position and, to such extent, cooperating with spring 41.

The stretchers 18 and 20 move in opposite directions, this being desirable for the purpose of securing effective stretching of the toe portion of a stocking, and as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, are actuated by means including a terminal wedge member 42 having oppositely disposed inclined faces adapted to coact with corresponding inclined faces on the stretchers 18 and 20 respectively. A spring 43 having its ends secured to the stretchers 18 and 20 respectively retains said stretchers normally in retracted position. As indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the stretchers 18 and 20, are positioned to move in a direction substantially 90 degrees from the direc tion of motion of the long seam stretchers, as 15 and 16, for example. This arrangement is intended to effect the proper stretching of the gore and the looper seam of the stocking toe, the latter seam ordinarily being disposed transversely of the stocking fabric and of the long rear leg seam thereof.

It is also possible to utilize the stretchers and actuating devices therefor in connection with atip or end portion having substantially the shape shown in Figures 6 and 7. As indicated therein, the end is approximately attenuated or wedge shaped and with a reentrant or concave terminal or end surface adapted to form protu'berances o-r knuckle shaped corners as 53 and 54. In operation, when the inspector pulls the toe seam tightly against said knuckles, the stitches along the whole seam are fully extended for inspection. This construction is particularly effective for revealing faulty end stitches which are frequently overlooked in the use of other inspection devices with which I am familiar.

Where the wedge shaped end is employed, stretchers 55 and 56 may conveniently be held in opposed openings or recesses 50 by pivots or pins 57 so that the rear ends of said stretchers will have an arcuate outward and inward motion in response to endwise movement of the actuating rod or other suitable operating means. A separate opening or recess 51 in a tapered portion of the body 1 accommodates a stretcher 52 adapted to be extended and retracted in any suitable manner by cndwise movement of rod 28 and in a di rcction at 90 degrees to the direction of movcment of the stretchers and 56. Stretcher 52 in Figures 6 and 7 corresponds in function to stretcher 16 of Figures 1 and 2 to the extent that the latter is used to expand the narrowing and the seam stitches occurring ust below the calf portion of the stocking.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention some of the stretchers move in a direction different from or at an angle to the direction of movement of others. For example, the stretcher 13 which during inspection normally engages or underlies the welt seam,

.;. moves in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of rod 23, while stretcher 1 1 which normally engages or underlies the narrowing occurring below the welt moves outwardly at different angle to the direction of movement of said rod 2 Similarly, stretcher 15 moves in the same direction as stretcher 13 stretcher 16 moves in a direction at an angle thereto; and stretcher 17 moves similarly to stretchers 13 and 15. The direction of motion of each of stretchers 1S and 20 is also at an angle to the direction of movement of rod 23 and of other stretchers. Inasmuch as the contour of the form 1 in a preferred embodiment is intended to follow closely an ideal interior contour of an extended stocking, there will be under some conditions of operation an advantage in providing the variation in direction of movement hereinabove described. Thus, by advancing or extending the stretcher 14 in a direction at an angle to the central longitudinal axis of the form, the direction of movement is normal to the contour of the narrowing below the welt so that there will be no longitudinal distortion of the stocking fabric and no slippage between the exposed or outer face of the stretcher and the under side of that portion of the stocking being stretched thereby. Furthermore, this arrangement permits a desirable uniformity of stretching force to be exerted along the whole line of the seam except with respect to those portions in which a greater or less degree of stretching is desired.

In operation, the stocking or other article of hosiery to be examined or inspected is drawn into position upon the form 1 while the stretching members are in retracted position, as in Figure 1. The rear seam of the stocking is positioned to lie over the stretching members hereinabove identified, or some of them, depending upon the length or size of the article being inspected. To inspect the seam, the operative deflects the free end of hell crank lever 30 which causes the extension or outward moving of the several stretching members against yielding resistance of the spring members 21 and 43 provided for the purpose of retaining said stretchers in normal retracted position, thus stretching the narrowing and looper or seam stitches to any desirable extent. 'With. the stitches stretched. or distorted as indicated, a skilled operative can by a very swift glance quickly detect any irregularity or imperfection occurring along the seam or narrowings of a full fashioned garment. On returning the bell crank lever 30 to the position inclicated in Figure 1, the stretchers are restored to their normal retracted positions and the stocking may then be stripped oil the form and ready for the next operation. Obviously, the stocking while in place on the form may also be examined throughout its whole extent by rotating the form and by manually stretching selected portions against the form. Vhere the latter is mounted on ball bearings as illustrated, resistance to rotation is reduced'to a minimum.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a recessed stocking supporting form, a plurality of stocking stretching members positioned in the recesses thereof, means effectively engaging said members to move the same outwardly with respect to said recesses, one member in one direction and another in another direction at an angle of 90 degrees to the direction of motion of said first mentioned member.

2. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a stocking supporting form having separate openings in its stocking engaging surface at positions corresponding respectively to a toe portion and a leg portion of a stocking, stocking stretching members mounted in said form and positioned and adapted to be moved through said respective openings, and means for simultaneously actuating said stretching members whereby the toe portion of a stocking may be engaged and stretched in one direction and the leg portion in a direction at an angle of 90 degrees with respect thereto.

3. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a form having portions of substantially circular cross sectional contour some of said portions being tapered, and a wedge shaped terminal portion having a re-entrant outer end surface positioned between protuberant corners.

4. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a form provided with a recess having an inclined surface, a stretcher in said recess and having an inclined surface normally opposed to said inclined surface of said recess, a wedge positioned between said inclined surfaces, and means for imparting to said wedge a combined endwise and lateral movement with respect to said stretcher.

5. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a form provided with a recess, a stretcher mounted to move therein, a stretcher-moving instrumentality positioned between said stretcher and a Wall of said recess, andmeans for imparting to said instrumentality a combined endvvise and lateral movement with respect to said stretcher.

6. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a stocking supporting form provided with a Wedge-shaped terminal portion having a re entrant outer end surface positioned between protuberant corners.

7 A hosiery inspecting device comprising a stocking supporting form having'an opening adjacent to its toe engaging end, a stretcher mounted in said form and movable through said opening, another opening positioned at an intermediate portion of said form and at an angle of 90 degrees to the first mentioned opening, a stretcher mounted in g the form and movable through said second mentioned opening, and means for actuating said stretchers.

8. A hosiery inspecting device comprising a stocking supporting form, an extendible toe seam engaging stretcher mounted at one end thereof, a leg seam engaging stretcher mounted at an intermediate portion thereof and I extendible at an angle of 90 degrees to the direction of extension of said toe seam engaging stretcher, and means for actuating said stretchers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 16th day of April, 1928.

EDWARD R. AMMON. 

